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american power strip works in australia..?

post #1 of 12
8/19/06 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 
as the title says, i'm considering to get an american power strip to accomodate my power cable. as you all know america has 120v/60hz cycle whereas australia has 240v/50hz cycle. if i get a powerstrip with 20 amp rating will it work here in australia, i mean just the powerstrip no surge protection whatsoever inside. my equipments draw around 300-400 watts from the wall and judging from the load even a 10 amp powerstrip will be sufficient. is it ok to run a 125v powerstrip at 240v within their total load limit of course? or this idea is stupid and i should just forget about it? thank you for any reply.
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post #2 of 12
8/19/06 at 3:23pm
Power ratings aside, why would you buy a power strip that has the wrong type of plugs for your country?
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post #3 of 12
8/19/06 at 5:00pm
Thread Starter 
my cables are using american plug, besides finding a decent australian plug is next to impossible. actually furutech made them, but @ 200 a pop. anyone care to answer the voltage rating question?
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post #4 of 12
8/19/06 at 9:17pm
If you did what you are proposing and say something was to catch fire, you're insurance would not cover a thing. Do you really want to risk it?
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post #5 of 12
8/19/06 at 11:16pm
Most 'standard' power cables that come with equipment carry at 250V rating on them, irrespective of country of sale. It's all standard wire, with different plugs stuck on at the end. The same is largely true of power strips.
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post #6 of 12
8/19/06 at 11:45pm
heat comes from current, not voltage....

EDIT: badly worded, comes from the combination of the two
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post #7 of 12
8/20/06 at 12:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by revo_909
as the title says, i'm considering to get an american power strip to accomodate my power cable. as you all know america has 120v/60hz cycle whereas australia has 240v/50hz cycle. if i get a powerstrip with 20 amp rating will it work here in australia, i mean just the powerstrip no surge protection whatsoever inside. my equipments draw around 300-400 watts from the wall and judging from the load even a 10 amp powerstrip will be sufficient. is it ok to run a 125v powerstrip at 240v within their total load limit of course? or this idea is stupid and i should just forget about it? thank you for any reply.

Technically it will be fine and will not be a fire risk, although since its not approved to Australian standards, it might be an insurance risk.

Im here in Australia and Ive actually got all US plugs/sockets from my wall outlet all the way through, simply because its cheaper and easier to source a wide range of parts.

To go cheap and Australian approved you can get the Eichmann universal power strip , which accepts all plugs. You can get these at HiFi stores in Australia for about AUD$65.

Also note that the Furutech Australian plugs do sound very good (I know its controversial but I prefer the Furutech copper to all of the more expensive high profile phosphor bronze stuff). ALso note you can get premade power cables and power strips from VHAudio with Furutech Australina plugs for a fraction of the dodgy local distributors.
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post #8 of 12
8/20/06 at 2:50am
The Eichmann power strip is available in Australia (actually it is made there) and will take any type of plug - US, Australian, European etc. I know because I just bought a couple! You can see what I mean by looking at the picture here: http://www.livingstoneaudio.com.au/p...?page_id=21922 (the unit sold in Australia is the one on top). It works very well, and has the added advantage of taking a separate IEC cable from the wall, so you can use any type of power cable for that function as well. From memory, the strip costs about A$70.
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post #9 of 12
8/20/06 at 3:27am
Thread Starter 
thank you for the reply, i had a look at eichman power strip before, but they're made out of plastic and doesn't seem to be durable. i'm looking for a metal power strip, nothing fancy something like wiremold power strip will definately enough for my purpose. VH audio looks good, but they're a tad expensive form my need. thank you for the replies
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post #10 of 12
8/20/06 at 3:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by revo_909
thank you for the reply, i had a look at eichman power strip before, but they're made out of plastic and doesn't seem to be durable. i'm looking for a metal power strip, nothing fancy something like wiremold power strip will definately enough for my purpose. VH audio looks good, but they're a tad expensive form my need. thank you for the replies
I am personally wary of metal-bodied strips that don't insulate you from any potential electrical hazard!
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post #11 of 12
5/18/11 at 9:45am

You could end up DEAD if you follow any of the above dangerous nonsense.Australia's power supply is LETHAL and you are not allowed to play with it like the Americans and their multiple

 voltage supply.Australian plugs are currently safer than American plugs.Get a qualified electrician.I have not seen such a stupid question anywhere on the net.Save lives and don't meddle with electricity.

The 'Dumbo' talking about metal power strips(boards) must be related to the dinosaurs.

Burto

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post #12 of 12
5/18/11 at 10:27am

You could find yourself in serious trouble doing that. If you were moving from Australia to the USA it wouldn't be a problem as frequency shouldn't affect much for the power bar itself and the voltage is lower. You can't rely on your insulation bing good to 250Vac unles the power bar has a stamp on it saying that it's good till that voltage, otherwise you have to asume that it won't work. A $200 power bar is better than burning everything and possibly killing yourself and others...

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